Writers can take some reassurance from stats from a new survey by Wattpad and Wakefield Research showing that 92 percent of readers think it’s important for humans to be involved in writing and producing books. Also, 80 percent of readers surveyed prefer recommendations from a person rather than an algorithm.
Also of interest: The majority of Gen Z readers don’t turn to specific influencers or celebrity book club recommendations; only 18 percent cite celebrity book clubs as sources for recommendations, and 30 percent cite specific book influencers as sources. Celebrity book clubs hold more influence among Millennials, with 26 percent using them to find new books. Learn more.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
